Clutch



May 19, 1925.

A. J. DETL'AFF CLUTCH May 19, 1925.

cLuTcH 3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 1'7, 1922 Patented May 19, 1925;

UNITED sTATEs ANTHONY J. DETLAFF,

or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CLUTCH.

Application led June 17, 1922. Serial N'o. 568,988.

To LIZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY J. DETLAFF, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to clutch mechanism, more particularly to clutches used for the transmission of power from an engine for use on automobiles or selfpropelled vehicles of any character. w

A primary object of the invention is to prevent the rattling which is likely to occur in clutches in which a plurality of clutch disks are used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a more eflicicnt means for withdraw ing the clutch disks from contact with cach other.

Other objects will yappear in connection with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the acf companying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a central longitudinalsection;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation taken on the line II-II Of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 lis a longitudinaly section showing a modified form of the release bearing retainer; l

Fig. 4 is an elevation ofthe release bearing retainer and the release yoke shown in Figi 3, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fragment of one edge of a clutch disk.

lThe flywheel of the engine 1s indicated at 1 in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, and in solid lines in Fig. 2, as having a hollow cylindrical end portion within which is mounted a plurality of studs 2. Mounted co-axially with the flywheel 1 is a clutch shaft 3 having secured thereto an end plate 4 carrying a plurality of studs 5. Mounted upon the studs 5 are a plurality of disks.6 having perforations therein to engage the studs 5 to hold the plates substantially co-axial with the shaft 3. Alternating with the disks 6 are a plurality of disks 7 having their periphery formed with projecting ears 8 at intervals to engage on opposite sides of the studs 2. These ears 8 are formed by punching out a portion 9 from the disk and slitting the metal between the cut-out portion and the periphery of the disk. The free ends of the slit portion are then bent first to one side of the disk as indicated at 10 and then rebent tot extend substantially at right angles to the plane of the disk 7, the ears being intersected by the plane ofthe disk '7. The purpose of giving the metal this double curvature adjacent to the ear is to provide greater resiliency and to prevent breaking of the metal at the` line of flex'- ure. It has been found that when the ear has been bent to one side only at substan.- tially right angles tothe plane o-f the disk, continued fleXure of the metal due to pressure of the dear against the stud with which it lies in contact is likely to cause the metal to break at its line of?4 flexure. The double curvature provides a less Vabrupt bend and distributes the strain over a much wider area. Ribs 7 provide greater rigidity.

Secured upon the disks 7 as by rivets 11 are friction facings 12 which may be of asbestos or other suitable material. .A pressure plate 13- is normally held in contact with the end member of the series of disks remote from the end plate 4 by means of coiled springs 14surrounding the studs 5 and held thereon by means of securing disks 15 held upon the -studs 5 by pins 16. The end plate 4 is secured upon the shaft 3 by means of a nut 17, the hub of the plateand. the shaft being', mutually tapered as shown at18. A key 19- is provided to prevent relative rotation of theehd plate 4 uponl the shaft 3 and a pin 20 is used to prevent rotation of the nut 17. The end 21 of the shaft 3' adjacent to the flywheel 1 is adapted to fit within a bearing 22 co-aXial with the flywheel. v

Arranged around the flywheel 1 are a lurality of studs 23 and upon each stu is mounted a spring 24, the opposite end or each spring Iengaging one of the plates 7. Each of the plates 7 has vits periphery provided with recesses into which the springs extend and hold the ears 8 in contact with the studs 2.

The ypressure plate 13 is 25 mounted upon the shaft 3. Upon the sleeve 25 is secured the inner member 26 of the release bearing, the outer portion 27 of the bearing being held Within the release bearing retainer 28. For assembly urposes secured'to a sleeve l "the outer bearing member 27 'may'v e made in two sections held togetherv by a channeled member 29. The' member 28 may-conveniently 4be made of a castinghav1ng'-- a projeqti'ng flange 30 to which 1s Secured as by rivets 31 a steel bearing ring 32 engaged by the studs 33 of the release yoke 34. LAs a means for retaining the member 26Jupon the sleeve 25- a lock nut 35 may be used, the nut having recesses 36* for a wrench and the outer periphery of the nut 35 being provided with a packing 37,01` felt or other suitable materia to lprevent dirt` from entering the bearing. 'w l v The release bearing retainer ordinarilyl lies closely adjacent to the transmission casing 38 whichA is shown as provided with an end facing 39 against which the end of the sleeve 25 and of the nut 35 are adapted to4 engage when the release bearing is forced toward the memberl 39- as the clutch is released. This contact of the sleeve and nut 'with the member 39 acts as a friction brake. to stop the rotation of the shaft 3vwith the member secured thereto.

A modified form of Arelease bearing is to the pressure plate 13 extends close to the `bearing Amember 40. The outer side of the bearing is covered by a cup-shaped cap 45,J the inner portion of which is engaged by a flange 46 upon thei nut 42. Thesleeve 25 may be secured to the pressure plate 13 by means of the screw 47 and the sleeve 41 may be secured to the pressure plate 13 in the limited to the specific details shown but is modification by means of the screw 48, the purpose of the screw in either case being to prevent relative movement of the sleeve and 4 the pressure plate such as might occur due 'to the friction between either sleeve and the bearing plate 39.- 'I'he bearings may be prov ided with oil cups 49 of any suitable deslofn. l

l 2:It will be seen that there is thus provided a device possessing the particular features of advantage enumerated as desirable but which obviously is susceptible of modilica' -tion Lin-form,'proportion andv details of construction without departure from the principle involved orl sacrificing any of its ad` vantages. The' invention is therefore n'ot claimed in any of its forms or modifications 'y within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.'

-I claim: I,

1. In a clutch wherein a series of disks have peripheral portions engaging studs on cesses of said disks, and connecting said disks to said member.

2. .In a clutch, the combination of a series ofhdisks, clamping plates at the ends of the series, studs on yone of said plates engaging alternate disks, a member, disk.engaging` means carried by said'member to engage the other disks of the series, and springs be-` tween said disk engaging means connectedwith said member and with the last mentioned series of said disks to hold them in gential pull to vhold said disks yieldingly in e engagement with said studs.

4. In a clutch, a disk having a perforation formed therein, the portion of the disk' between the perforation and the edge of the disk being severed. to provide two sections,

said sections being bent away from the plane of the disk and then rebentto form two substantially parallel bearing surfaces adapted to receive an abutment member 'therebetween preventing rotation of the disk in its own plane. Y l

5. In' ,ai clutch, a disk having a perforation 4 formed therein, the portion of the disk between the perforation and the edge of the disk being severed to providetwo sections,

said sections being bent to' form substantally parallel bearing surfaces ladapted to .receiveran abutment member therebetween,

and ribs formed upon the disk adjacent to saidl bearing-surfaces to provide increased rigidity. Y, A

In testimony whereof I aiix my signa- -ture in presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY J. DETLAFF. llVitnesse's':

ARTHUR MINNIQK, D. M.' MACDUFF. 

